Adrien thought about how pretty the genie is and sighed. He supposed it is how things are with him.  

    "I am just that guy who has to deal with no family expect, Natalie,"  Adrien said.

    Inside her lamp, the genie dreamed about her life before she became a genie and her future.  Marinette sighed within the lap as she wakes up. She hoped Adrien finds more friends soon.

"Wayzz, I think the genie and Adrien are great friends!" His grandfather said.

 "Yes, they are but I think Adrien likes her," Wayzz remarked.

 "Yes, so why is that a problem?"  

  "One of the rules is that a genie can not make anyone fall in love or be in love," Wayzz pointed out.

"Very few genies were able to keep someone from falling in love with them, especially if they were not a genie forever."

"Oh, I see!  I agree this genie is special and it is up to Adrien to find out." Wayzz told his grandfather.

     Adrien struggled with what other wishes he should make. He never wanted to make any foolish wishes because they can not be undone. He got ready for bed, fell asleep early, and slept through the night.

   The next day Adrien awakened with a grin.  It sure was unusually quiet. 

    "Genie, you still there?" He called out.

    The genie heard Adrien's voice and came out of the lamp.

 "Good morning, Master Adrien,"  She said. 

"Good morning, I thought about it a lot."

"What is it?"  

"I am ready to make my second wish now." He said.

"Ok, what is your second wish?" 

"I  wish for Natalie to have a new set of designer glasses she likes," Adrien responded.

   The genie muttered something under her breath. 

   "Wish number 2 is now granted!"

"You are not always going to use the wish on others are you?" 

  "So, what if I do?" 

"What about your happiness?" She questioned him.

"I will be happy as long as the wishes help others, but I will save the last two wishes for myself," Adrien explained.

"Ok, sounds like a good plan to me."

  "Any way you never did tell me your backstory, and I would like to hear it," Adrien requested. He is curious about her past.

"I was born to ordinary parents. Well, everything was great until my tenth birthday when my dad was kidnapped. My mother could not afford the ransom, so my father is still missing." 

"Soon after this, the kidnappers made a threat against me. They said they would harm me if mother did not work for them." 

"She worked for them for a week, but they were displeased with her work. She went missing as a result, and the police found her face down in the ravine. Turns out the kidnappers murdered my mom."  Genie Marinette felt tears as they formed in her eyes.

"The police sent me to an orphanage for my safety. The other children made fun of me. One night as I slept some strange man came and turned me into a genie. I have been stuck this way ever since then." 

"I tried for years to turn back to normal, but was not able to succeed."  She thought I can not ask him to wish for my freedom.

 
  Why did this Master have to be, so young, and kind?   I have had many masters in the past.  Some were horrible, a few were not as bad as the rest, but none of the others were kind. She kept all these thoughts to herself.

"I am sorry your life was ruined by so many others in the past."

"I promise to be a good Master for you. You have my word since we are friends." 

"Oh, yes indeed we are Master, I mean Adrien."

"Well, I suppose since you told me about yourself it is only fair if I do the same," Adrien spoke up.

"I live alone since I was a child except for Natalie who is my nanny. She seems like a second mother to me since my mother died when I was a child."

"My father left town to search for my mother after she died. He was so heartbroken he could never accept the truth." Adrien explained.

"I waited for him to return any day, but he never did.  No one knows what happened to him, but I figure he is dead." 

"Natalie took care of me while my mother was sick after she died, and when my father left town. I know she means well, but she is the reason I have few friends. She worries." Adrien blurted out.

"She is convinced with friends I might start my own family and soon forget about her," Adrien remarked.

  "If I get married I would keep Natalie on as our housekeeper," Adrien told her.

    "There is a television program that I wanted to see. Mind if I borrowed it?"

  "S-Sure go ahead then," Adrien muttered. He made sure she could see his blush as it formed on his face.

    Adrien grabbed his jacket. He paused at the door.  

    "I will be back later from my walk. See you then, bye!" 
   

    Marinette watched him go. She felt her heart flutter. What was this?

The chapter was published on December 1, 2020, and the edits were made on January 15, 2021.